Scaffold for builders



June 29, 1948. v JFWAHL 2,444,122

scAFFoLb FOR BUILDERS Filed July 19, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 roe-r1101-Jase vir wa 717 9 WW June 29, 1948. WAHL 2,444,122

SCAFFOLD FOR BUILDERS Filed July 19, 1946 :s Sheets-She et 2 June 29,1948. J. WAHL.

I SCAFFOLD FOR BUILDERS.

:s Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed. July 19, 1946 :5 Q i 6 m mmh a Q Q o o i H v a2 3 3 R n a R an gal T Patented June 29, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE SCAFFOLD FOR BUILDERS Joseph Wahl, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaApplication July 19, 1946, Serial No. 684,679

. 4 Claims. 1

My invention comprehends the novel construction and arrangement of anapparatus for laying conventional building blocks, and aims to provide ascaffold structure having a carriage operable on a track for carryingblocks from a source of supply and depositing them in laid position inthe erection of a wall or walls of a building.

The invention further comprehends an apparatus of this character inwhich the carriage is provided with a gripper in the form of dependingjaws for entering an aperture in a block in order to grip the block by aspreading action brought about by a device which spreads the jaws intoengagement with wall-surfaces of said aperture.

. The jaws are mounted on the carriage by a device by which they arelowered and raised for picking up a block from, a supply station andlowering it into position on a wall in the laying of a course of blocks.This relieves the workman of the arduous task of picking up a block byhand and carrying it to the place where it is required to be placed andthen further handling it in the laying operation.

Additionally, the invention includes in its novel features the provisionof a scaffold made up of similar sections which are erected at the sidej of a foundation for a building to extend partly or substantiallycompletely around the same. The scaffold-sections comprise verticalslides at their ends which are raised and lowered by means of winchesand provided with platform elements for, the workmen so that they maystand at a "convenient elevation for applying mortar and performingother work incidental to the laying of blocks. The slides are alsoprovided with overhead rails for the carriage, and preferably there issupplied a double rail so that when a block has been delivered thecarriage may be transferred from one rail to the other in order that itmay be returned for reloading while another block is being delivered bya second carriage.

This expedites the laying of blocks.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate a selected embodiment of the block-layingapparatus which is described in detail in the ensuing specification andmore particularly defined in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of 'a fragment of thescaffold apparatus showing a complete section with one carriage, itbeing understood that other sections are of a similar construction.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. is a perspective view depicting on an enlarged scale the upper partof a slide which is guided on an end member of the scaffold section andis provided with an arm for support of the rails.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view depicting on a like scale the lower part ofthe slide of Fig. 3 and showing it provided with an arm for support ofthe platform.

Fig. 5 is a front end view of the arm of Fig. 4 showing a splice plateslidably mounted thereon for joining adjacent ends of planks whichcomprise the platform. 4

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the carriage, on an enlarged scale,depicting it on one of the two rails and indicating the gripper in araised position and also in a lowered position, the lowered positionbeing shown in dash lines. 4

Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 6 and depicts a building block in crosssection in full lines.

Fig. 9 is a cross section of the gripper device taken on line 9-9 ofFig. 8.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, it will be seen thatthe apparatus comprises a scaffold of the skeletal type commonly used inassociation with the erection of a building. The scaffold is made up ofa plurality of similar sections or units which are erected at the siteof the building in proximity to the walls to be built of buildingblocks. The number of sections or units employed for a givenbuildingwill of course depend upon the length of the component wallsrelative to the individual length of said sections or units. Thesections or units will rest upon the ground and be of a suitable height,and also adapted to be extended in height by the addition of similarunits thereto, all of which l is of well-known practice and will be wellunderstood by those skilled in the art.

Each section or unit comprises spaced front uprights l0 and spaced rearuprights ll joined to compose a unitary assembly by means of crosspieces l2 and struts or braces l3. The sections or units are erected inspaced endwise relation, and adjacent sections or units are joined bysimilar cross pieces, denoted at M in Fig. 1.

The front uprights ll] of each section of the scaffold are fitted withvertical slides I5. Each slide is interfitted with a front upright by anapproved connection, denoted at H5 in Figs.

3 and 4, by which it is endwise slidable on ways I! preferably formed bya T-shaped cross section with which the upright is provided. The slideis suspended by a cable l8 passed arounda pulley l8 at the top of thesection and secured at 3 an end to the slide with the other endconnected to a winch H1. The winch is preferably mounted on a forwardlyextended arm 20 and is turned by the hand crank 2| for winding the cableon the drum element 22 having the usual ratchet 23 and dog 24.

The arm 20 is rigid with the slide and serves to carry a hanger 25 whichis loosely engaged so that it can be positionally changed along thelength lof th arm for the purpose ihereinaiter explained. Said hanger issupplied'with'spac'ed straps 26 having inturned lower ends which formseats 21 for abutting ends of rail-lengths Z8 and 29. The rails consistof lengths of angleziron' and the one length 29 is extended from one tothe other of the slides on the scaffol'dsec'tion or unit and is securedon the seats 2110f :therhangers 25 by bolts or like fastening elements30, The other rail-length 28 is similarly extended between'the slides onthe scaffold section and secured on seats ofthe hangers -25"by-fastening elements-see Fig.

The seats 21 also serve The support abutting -.ends of rail-length,:denoted by :31 in :Figs. 1,72

and 3, which extend to an adjacent scaffold section so as to provide :acontinuous trac-kway .;alongside of'a wall of :a building.

'Theslid'es l of the sca'fiold section or .unit are provided with rigidarms 32 forwardlylextended from their lower .ends .for .the .supportao'fa plat- .rformxor cat-walk 'for the workmen. These .arms

are somewhat shorter than the .arms 20 .=.and.are provided with spliceplates 33nfi'gi'd withsad'dl'es .zit l :l'oosely seated on .the arms L32and retained -':to support abutting ends :of :planks, as .at 3B,

which extend to adjacent scaffold sections so as to provide :acontinuous platform beneath .the

rails.

From "the precedingidescriptionrit.willrbe;manifest that there isprovided :a sectional scaffold with supper "rails and a lower platform,and .one

which can 'be readily .erectedgonagjob and dis- :mantled when .the jobiszfinished. The rails and tplatformare unitary .and canbe elevated:by-the winches on the .slides. 'WQr kmenLstandingmn-the platformoperate the Winches.

.The carriage is denoted .as a whole'zby the numeral .3! and is providedwith grooved wheels 38 .;by which it is :suited to travel on one of :the

smile, .and .also provided with oppositely located wheels 39 by which itis suitedto travel on the other rail. To .this end it is :disposed:between the rails with the wheels .at either side so that 'a workman.may readily liftitfrom -.one trail to the other. One-0f :the :ra'ilslis:usedlforadlivery of blocks from a pile :or :s'tacktto zthe situation ofplacement inith'e erection of'zazwall. 'Ifhe other rail is used for(return :of the :carriage .twhen unl'oaded. .Any number :of carriages.may be lemployed .andtthe'.rails;should be .spacedapart :a zdi'stancesufficient :to apermit'a carriagezonone rail to pass acarriage :on theother .rail. flbviously iagsinglemailzmay-be employedfifeopdesired.

The carriage is :provided with za 'gripp'er :for

cgripping "the :usual i building blocks, indicated at sill. 'llhegripper comprises.a:pair;of;jaws 4.|;pivotl :ally depending frornaswivel :memberdz having va-transverse:axis1S3 by whichit is attachedltothe iin'termediate portion :of ;a horizontally-arranged alatching :leverM. The jaws M are .adapted :to aentel'ythe central opening vinabuildingblockzand,

4 are expanded into gripping engagement with the wall surface thereof bymeans of a spreading device. The spreading device desirably consists ofa wedge 45 having inclined faces which are engaged with inclined innerfaces 46 provided on the jaws. The wedge is actuated by a hand lever 41fulcrumed on the swivel member 42 and connected to the same by means ofa link 48. In the arrangement shown, the hand lever 41 is raised;tO.SpI-=Ba,diI}h jaws and reverselyimovedto release them. Otherarrangements could be resorted to without departing from the invention.

The latching lever 44 is pivoted to one end of the-carriage as indicatedat 49 so as to swing downwardly and is latched to the other end of thecarriage by a catch 5|] pivoted at 5| and engaged withapin or otherkeeper 52. The free end of the'latching lever has a hand grip 53 andrtheacatch has a grip 54. Accordingly, a workman standing on theplatform can readily take hold of the latching lever and releasethe-catch inorder tollower the gripper.

.In .the use of the apparatus the sectional scaffold is set up alongsideof the building site with-one or more carriages on the rails. .Atonepart or endof the scaffold there ;provideda feeding station (not shown)at which .a pile .or stack of blocks are deposited .and :at which aworkman loads a -.carriage. For this :purpose blocks lmay beplacedpnithelpl'atform at'the feed- .ing station or they maybe placed .on a liftwhich can Lbe raised according to the height :of the platform. Thehangers are so positionedilaterally .of the scaffold that the carriage,when mounted "on the "front rail, will suspend a block directly .overthe wall to be laid. Adjustment of the hangers isefiectedby shiftingthemonthearms '28 as previously recounted, The platform 'ior'the workmen isdisposed inwardly -of the-carriage and at a "height most convenient for-the-laying of the blocks. In the use of the carriage it "is firstdisposed over 'a blockto be 'picked'up from the source of supply and thelever 44 is'unlatched to lower the gripper so that the "jaws "can beengaged in the block as above described. IThe block is gripped"byspreading :the jaws and then the'lever isra'ised and latched forcarrying the block .to its destination whereupon it .is lowered by thelatching .lever to situate it in the wall struc'turelin bondeddisposition without the-workman having toli'ft itlinto-place. .All-theWorkman has .to .do .is .to .inortar each course and plumb theblocks..The slidesrareelevated .bythe winches .to progressively-elevate theerails and 'platform. The carriage is propelled by hand and whendtrhastbeen relievedof 1a blocklit is transferred-from one rail to theother ands-returnedwfor another :block.

The advantages and utility .of the invention will be readil apparent and.it will-the manifest that the apparatus ,Tgreatly facilitates :andexpedites the laying of blocks .with ,-an attendant 'savsing. in labourcost. The :rails .may have curved sections for turning [of :thezcarriage ;at a corner of the building, or i021 thecth'er :hand:aG-yl Systructure, .an overhead rail :supported thereby, .a carriage fortraversing the rrail, an'd .a gripper comprising relatively movable jawsdepending from the carriage with distaleends adapted to .enter :a holein.:a block, and .a hand-:operated wedge for spreading said free ends ofthe jaws in order to grip the block.

2. In apparatus of the kind described, a scaffold structure, an overheadrail supported thereby, a carriage for traversing the rail, and agripper comprising coacting jaws pivotally depending from the carriageand having distal ends for entering a hole in a block, a wedge disposedbetween said distal ends and having inclined faces engaged with similarfaces thereon, and a handlever mechanism for shifting the wedge forspreading said distal ends into gripping engagement with said block.

3. In apparatus of the kind described, a scaffold structure, an overheadrail supported thereby, a carriage for traversing the rail, and agripper comprising a swivel member on the carriage, a pair of jawspivotally depending from the swivel member for entering an aperture in ablock, said jaws having inwardly disposed inclined faces, a wedgeengaged with said faces, a handlever pivoted on said swivel member, anda link operably connecting the wedge to the handlever for spreading thejaws to grip the block.

4. In apparatus of the kind described, a scaffold 6 structure, a spacedpair of rails supported thereby, a carriage disposed between said railshaving a lateral set of wheels for traversing one of the rails andhaving an opposite lateral set of wheels whereby it may be transferredto the other rail for traversing the same, and a gripper suspended onthe carriage by a connection including means by which it may be loweredand raised.

JOSEPH WAHL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 530,389 Brooks Dec. 4, 1894845,936 Edwards Mar. 5, 1907 1,171,580 Atterbury Feb. 15, 1916 1,565,454Hoisington Dec. 15, 1925 2,369,727 Falkner Feb. 20, 1945 FOREIGNPA'I'ENTS Number Country Date 494,148 Germany Mar. 19, 1930

